Global Para Athletes Take the Stage as 2026 Winter Paralympics Officially Open

Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympics Begin: Athletes Compete Across Winter Sports

The Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics has officially begun in Verona, Italy, launching one of the biggest events in international para-sports. The Games will run from March 6 to March 15, 2026, bringing together more than 600 athletes from over 55 nations competing for medals across six winter sports.

Held at the historic Arena di Verona, the ceremony celebrated inclusion, resilience, and the achievements of athletes with disabilities. Spectacular performances, music, and the lighting of the Paralympic flame officially opened the Games. 

The Sports Athletes Will Compete In

1. Para Alpine Skiing

Para Alpine Skiing is one of the most popular and medal-rich events at the Winter Paralympics. Athletes compete in downhill, super-G, slalom, giant slalom, and combined events on steep alpine slopes.

Competitors are classified based on their impairments, including visual impairments, standing impairments, and sitting categories. Many visually impaired athletes race with a guide skier who communicates through a headset.

2. Para Biathlon

Para Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and precision shooting. Athletes ski long distances and stop at shooting ranges where they fire rifles at targets.

For athletes with visual impairments, rifles use acoustic signals that guide them toward the target. Missing a target results in time penalties or extra distance.

3. Para Cross-Country Skiing

This endurance sport requires athletes to ski long distances across snow-covered terrain. Races vary in distance and style, including sprint, middle-distance, and long-distance competitions.

Athletes compete in standing, sitting, or visually impaired categories, making it one of the most inclusive sports at the Winter Paralympics.

4. Para Ice Hockey

Also known as sled hockey, Para Ice Hockey is one of the most exciting team sports in the Paralympics. Players sit on sledges with two blades underneath and use two short sticks to propel themselves and control the puck.

The fast-paced game follows rules similar to traditional ice hockey, featuring powerful hits, quick passes, and intense competition.

5. Para Snowboard

Para Snowboard made its Paralympic debut in 2014 and has grown rapidly in popularity. Athletes race down snow-covered courses featuring jumps, turns, and obstacles.

The main events include:

• Snowboard Cross (multiple riders racing simultaneously)

• Banked Slalom (individual timed runs through a course with banked turns)

6. Wheelchair Curling

Wheelchair Curling is a strategic ice sport played by teams who slide stones toward a target area called the house. Unlike Olympic curling, there is no sweeping in wheelchair curling.

The 2026 Games also introduce mixed doubles wheelchair curling, adding a new format and increasing excitement for fans.

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympics mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympic Games, making this edition especially meaningful for athletes and fans worldwide. Over 79 medal events will take place across multiple Italian venues including Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Val di Fiemme. 

The Games highlight not only athletic excellence but also the spirit of resilience, inclusion, and global unity that defines the Paralympic movement.